What is a Chanticleer: The name given to a domestic ****, [edit:apparently I can't use the word ****, oh well, the next sentence makes it clear what the 4 stars mean] especially in fairytales. Was used to represent their association with the University of South Carolina, despite since becoming independent they decided not to change their name.

Conference: Sun Belt, starting 2017, were FCS independent in 2016, and members of the Big South Conference prior to that.

Head coach: Joe Moglia, 6th season.

Got into coaching after studying economics at Fordham, worked his way up from a high school assistant to the level of defensive coordinator at Dartmouth.

Decided that he wanted a career change in 1983, when he became a trader on Wall Street for Merrill Lynch. In 2001 he became the CEO for TD Ameritrade, where he oversaw record earnings performance for the company for 5 consecutive years.

Decided to get back into coaching after over 20 years, became HC for the Chanticleers in 2012.

Working our way up from the bottom of 2016's standings, Texas State Bobcats

Moved up to the FBS in 2012, to join the now defunct Western Athletic Conference (it's defunct in football, still exists in as a none football conference). Changed conference after 1 season (at the same time as the majority of the conference changed). Went 6-6 in 2013, and 7-5 in 2014, however they didn't receive a bowl invite, despite being eligible. Suffered a collapse in 2015, falling to 3-9, which lead to HC Dennis Franchione retiring, and handing the keys over to Everett Withers. Withers oversaw an even worse season at 2-10 (124th ranked O, 125th ranked D). However maybe the future is brighter, having landed the Sun Belt's number 1 ranked recruiting class for 2017 (89th overall, 10 3 stars).

Head coaches: Dennis Franchione took the school from the FCS to the FBS, retiring after a poor 2015 season (3-9).

Broke into coaching in 1973 as a high school HC in Missouri. Would go on to be the HC at Alabama (yes that Alabama), where he took them from a 3-8 record to 10-3 within 2 seasons, Alabama would offer him a 10 year contract, which would have taken him up to 2012, 5 years into the Saban era. Instead he opted to leave for Texas A&M (Alabama was under NCAA sanctions including a post season ban, and loss of 21 scholarships.) He would inform the players by video teleconference, rather than in person.

Was average at Texas A&M, there was some newsletter controversy, and he resigned after 2 seasons.

Current HC Everett Withers, played for Appalachian State, was interim HC at North Carolina (2011) after their improper benefits scandal. North Carolina decided not to give him the job full time. Became Texas State HC in 2016, taking them to a 2-10 season.

Rivals: Have signed a deal to face the UTSA Roadrunners home and home for 8 seasons, starting 2017.

Former players: Wade Key, 115 starts with the Philadelphia Eagles, named to the Philadelphia Eagles 75th Anniversary Team. David Mayo, 2014 Sun Belt defensive player of the year. Craig Mager (2015 3rd round draft pick (highest selection of a Sun Belt player that year), 10 starts for the San Diego Chargers).

I have a random (hopefully interesting) tidbit about a day spent in Conway, South Carolina during the summer of 1995 (when I was observing Ireland's rather than the US legal drinking age) but some of it probably isn't printable so will have to wait for another time
and it could probably include a Chanticleer

I have a random (hopefully interesting) tidbit about a day spent in Conway, South Carolina during the summer of 1995 (when I was observing Ireland's rather than the US legal drinking age) but some of it probably isn't printable so will have to wait for another time
and it could probably include a Chanticleer

Introduction: Members of the FBS since it's foundation in 1978 they have move conferences 6 times since then, moving from the Missouri Valley Conference ->Pacific Coast Athletic Association -> Big West ->Sun Belt -> Western Athletic Conference -> Independent -> Sun Belt, where they remain at this time.

Biggest achievement: Going undefeated in 1960, and finishing the season ranked for the only time in school history (#17 AP)

Biggest failure: Having 17 winning seasons since 1931. Having 1 winning season this millennium (54-151 overall). Not making a bowl appearance since 1960 (longest streak in football).

What is an Aggie: The name Aggie like most Aggies comes from the fact it is an agricultural and land grant university.

Mascot: Pistol Pete. After a copyright dispute with Oklahoma State university New Mexico State pay $10 per year for the license to use him. In 2005 NMSU attempted to disarm Pete, and replace the guns with a lasso, predictably for a southern state it annoyed a lot of people, and he was given his guns back a year later. He received a 1 game suspension from the WAC for getting into a fight with Utah State's mascot.

Rivals: Rio Grande Rivalry (New Mexico), dates back to 1894, before New Mexico had gained statehood. New Mexico currently lead the series 70–32–5. New Mexico State won the 2016 meeting 32-31

Battle of I-10 (Texas El Paso), dates back to 1914, UTEP leads 57–35–2, having won the last 8 games.

Head coach: Doug Martin. Former Kentucky QB, where he got his start in coaching as a graduate assistant. Kent State HC from 2004-2010 where he had a 29-53 record, he resigned in 2010 and became NMSU HC in 2013, currently has a 10-38 record.

Introduction: One of the newer teams in the FBS, only started playing football in 2010, moved up to FBS in 2013, joining the Sun Belt Conference. The university was actually founding members of the Sun Belt, but they didn't field a football team at the time. They would leave the Sun Belt because at the time the Sun Belt insisted basketball teams play at the largest arena in town, a team getting a few hundred in attendance playing in a 15,000 capacity arena was not a good look [insert Miami Hurricanes joke here]

Biggest achievement: Making their first bowl game in their 3rd season (Cure Bowl vs San Jose State, which they lost 16-27)

Biggest failure: Hard to call it a failure, but going 1-23 in their first two seasons in the FBS. Falling from the heady heights of 6-7 back to 3-9 in 2016.

Mascot: Pounce the Panther, a new mascot implemented across all teams to celebrate the new football team.

Rivals: Georgia Southern. A rivalry established in other sports, mainly basketball (Southern leads 34-17), but with both teams moving to the Sun Belt in recent years it's transferred over to football. Georgia State lead the series 2-1.

Wikipedia also claims South Alabama but I'm not buying it.

Head coach: Trent Miles (no relation to Les) was the HC since moving up to the FBS, however he was fired after a regression over the first 10 games of 2016. Tim Lappano would become the interim HC for the final 2 games, earning a victory over rivals Georgia Southern.

Shawn Elliott was named HC in December 2016, the former Appalachian State defensive end broke into coaching as a defensive assistant at his alma mater, he was most recently the OL coach at South Carolina under both Steve Spurrier and Will Muschamp, and was even named interim HC when The Old Ball Coach retired (going 1-5).

Notable former players: Ulrick John, 2014 7th round pick, only draft pick in the history of Georgia State, started 2 games for the Cardinals in 2016.

Stadium: Played at the Georgia Dome since their founding. With the Atlanta Braves moving to a new home for 2017 the Panthers have taken over the old Turner Field, re-designing it to a 23,000 capacity football stadium, renamed Georgia State Stadium. The concept for it actually looks pretty damn impressive.